Dear Governor Kotek,

Oregon Interpreters in Action represents a dedicated community of over 1,500 healthcare interpreters across Oregon. We are writing to express our deep concern about the delayed implementation of Senate Bill 1578 and missed deadlines critical to the bill’s progress. These delays directly impact the livelihoods of healthcare interpreters and, by extension, the patients, providers, and staff who depend on us to bridge communication gaps in healthcare settings.

Senate Bill 1578 promised transformative changes for healthcare interpreters in Oregon, including a centralized interpreter management system and a pathway to directly reimbursing interpreters for services provided to Oregon Health Plan members. Interpreter management system (IMS) companies have presented to us and OHA and have indicated that it would take them 8-12 weeks to get their pre-existing scheduling and invoicing system - which is customized for each of the health care systems that are their clients - up and running. Yet, the implementation timeline proposed by OHA now stretches to 2028, far beyond what is reasonable or feasible for those of us who rely on this work to sustain our families. Additionally, critical deadlines outlined in the bill, such as the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) responsibility to take all necessary steps by January 1, 2025, to secure federal financial participation, have not been met.

We urgently call on your leadership to:

1. Direct OHA to Expedite Implementation: Work with OHA to establish a clear and accelerated timeline for the interpreter management system mandated by SB 1578 to be operational by 2026.

2. Engage Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) and Interpreters: The ongoing contract negotiations with CCOs present a unique opportunity to address the current rates for healthcare interpreter services. We urge you to facilitate a conversation among stakeholders to raise minimum rates, ensuring fair compensation for interpreters and stability within the profession.

3. Secure Supplemental Payments During Transition: Should the full implementation of SB 1578 continue to face delays, we request your support in securing supplemental payments for interpreters. Similar payments approved by the Oregon Legislative Emergency Board in 2022 provided crucial financial assistance and could offer relief to interpreters currently struggling with high cost of living and maintaining credentials, leading to financial instability.

   Oregon healthcare interpreters are vital in ensuring equitable access to care for medical providers and their non-English-speaking patients. Without timely action, the delays in implementing SB 1578 threaten to undermine the profession and the health outcomes of those we serve.

We respectfully request your immediate attention to these issues and would welcome the opportunity to discuss these concerns further. We remain committed to supporting the implementation of SB 1578 and advancing the critical role of healthcare interpreters in our state.

Thank you for your time and leadership.

Sincerely,

Oregon Interpreters in Action